Laurence was born on 16 July 1856 in Richmond, Surrey. He was the second of the seven children of Joseph Thomas and Jessie Oliver Humphry (née McNab). He was baptised on 17 September 1856 at St Mary Magdalene, Richmond. His father undertook articles of clerkship with a solicitor but later became a barrister. Laurence grew up at 21 Westbourne Terrace and 26 Princes Square in Paddington, London. He was educated at Haileybury, Hertfordshire. He was admitted as a pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge on 11 August 1873. He obtained his BA in 1877, his MA and MB in 1880 and his MD in 1891. He obtained his MRCS in 1879 and his FRCP in 1903.

Laurence then undertook a number of roles during his medical career. He became a House Surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London; Resident Medical Officer at the London Chest Hospital; and Physician to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. He also held a number of teaching posts at Cambridge University including Teacher of Pathology in 1884, Lecturer in Medicine between 1901 and 1911, and Examiner of Medicine on several occasions. He was President of the Cambridge Medical Society between 1899 and 1900, and of the Huntingdon Branch, British Medical Association. In addition he was an author of medical books including A Manual of Nursing: Medical and Surgical, first published in 1895 and still in print.

Laurence married Isabella Lucy Stokes in 1889 in Cambridge. They did not have any children. They lived at 3 Trinity Street and then Lensfield House, Lensfield Road, Cambridge. During the War Laurence served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant-Colonel.Laurence died on 5 February 1920 at Cambridge.

Laurence’s nephew, John Geldard, also died in the War whilst serving as a Captain in the Plymouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marines.

Isabella Lucy Humphry (née Stokes) 1861–1934

Isabella was born on 21 September 1861 in Cambridge. She was the third of the four children of Sir George Gabriel Stokes and Mary Susanna Stokes (née Robinson). Her father was Master of Pembroke College and only the second person since Sir Isaac Newton to simultaneously hold the positions of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, MP for the University and President of the Royal Society. Isabella died on 18 July 1934 at Crowborough Beacon Nursing Home, Crowborough, Sussex.